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I got sniped away from Visible (Verizon MVNO) by US Mobile (multi-carrier MVNO) during a Black Friday sale. USM has an interesting thing where you can actually get a separate eSIM for each of the major carriers, and switch between them. I was curious so I signed up for all 3. It's been interesting to see how the signals vary from location to location, and at least a couple times I've been able to get significantly better signal by switching.

The main downside is that you have different numbers for each eSIM, but that doesn't really affect me because I use Google Voice for SMS.

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Unfortunately GV has been having a ~week outage of outgoing MMS group messages. Well, let's say a brownout – many messages make it through to some recipients.

https://www.google.com/appsstatus/dashboard/incidents/THtvkD...

Looks like they fixed it today.

But yeah I probably should have clarified that Google Voice has been a pretty terrible UX and quality overall for years. I really need to just bite the bullet and port my number out.

I switched to US Mobile a long time ago just due to pricing. I was WFH most days of the week (before Covid) so I could do minimal data and pay around $100/yr for unlimited talk/text. Now, I do unlimited everything as I commute 5 days each week, but it's only $200/yr. Still significant savings.

I like US Mobile a lot. That they're able to get postpaid priority on Dark Star is amazing.

I use them for my work phone, but there are a few things keeping me from switching away from T-Mobile for my personal lines (and I'd VERY MUCH like to switch):

- I have a family plan wherein I pay something like $254/mo for seven voice/data lines, two smartwatch lines and two tablet data lines. The phone lines all have unlimited data at full speed.

- T-Satellite just launched (wherein your phone uses Starlink when terrestrial towers aren't available). I'm not in this situation often but it can be useful.

- My plan provides free Wi-Fi on United. I fly a lot and use this benefit all of the time. Losing it would negate the savings I'd rack up from switching to US Mobile.

I really love US Mobile. I was a flagship postpaid $90/mo VZW customer for a decade and was so hesitant to switch. It's been 4 years now, and all I can say is that I can't believe I waited so long.

I'm considering switching to US Mobile from Verizon-- it seems way cheaper, and you can still use the Verizon network. Any downsides I should know?

I started mid last year and haven't run into any problems. Haven't needed to switch off of Dark Star yet.

I was previously on Google Fi, and MVNO roaming is bloody fantastic - I always had reception.

What is dark star?

It's the name of their AT&T MVNO.

One tradeoff with MVNOs is you're generally lower priority on the network.

The only time that's going to matter is during a high usage event, like sports or perhaps a mass casualty. At that point, the network is overloaded for the primary users anyway.

Priorities vary across MVNO’s. I’m not an expert but I think USM is on the better end of that priority spectrum.

I switched over a year ago and all I can say is … it’s been excellent. $25/month per line is perfect and service is just as good as our Verizon postpaid.

Ive had many issues where services can't verify the GV phone number - cause they know it's GV. Does this still happen?

Yup! Tip: lock em in and verify a regular cell phone number and then port it. They can probably make it work for you if it’s like a bank, otherwise yolo.

Used to happen more for me. Very rare now.